Iowa City at a Glance
Location: Eastern Iowa
Access: Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), interstates 80 and 380
Hotel Rooms: 3,880
Contact Info:
Think Iowa City
319-337-6592
thinkiowacity.com
Xtream Arena
Built: 2021
Exhibit Space: 50,000 square feet
Other Meeting Spaces: 25 meeting rooms
Meeting Hotels
Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center
Guest rooms: 288
Meeting Space: 60,000 square feet
Graduate by Hilton Iowa City
Guest rooms: 234
Meeting Space: 10,455 square feet
Who’s Meeting in Iowa City
AnimeIowa
Attendees: 1,000
National Criminal Defense College
Attendees: 150
Guild of Bookworkers
Attendees: 600
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Attendees: 1,100
As the nation’s first UNESCO City of Literature and a thought leader in the writing world, Iowa City, Iowa, embraces creativity and innovation. Both Iowa City and adjacent Coralville offer distinctive and walkable districts that seamlessly connect hotels, dining and entertainment. Home to the University of Iowa, it boasts a thriving sports scene, and culture weaves itself throughout the community via museums and storytelling.
Destination Highlights
Big Ten athletics take center stage at the University of Iowa, which supports seven men’s and 13 women’s athletic teams. Fans cheer teams in Kinnick Stadium, Carver-Hawkeye Arena and various venues. Nearby Coralville’s 5,100-seat Xtream Arena hosts the Iowa Heartlanders, Eastern Iowa’s only professional ice hockey team and affiliate of Minnesota Wild, with home games October to April.
Live music, a craft beer culture and numerous restaurants fill the area’s two distinct walkable districts, Iowa River Landing and Downtown Iowa City. Numerous museums include several at the University of Iowa. Undergoing a renovation slated for completion next summer, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum tells the story of Hoover’s 50 years of public service.
Meeting attendees will find inspiration in Iowa City’s independent bookstores. Highlights include Prairie Lights Books and Café’s diverse selection and weekly author readings. Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost and E. E. Cummings met on the top floor coffee shop during the 1930s. The Haunted Bookshop, located in the 1847 Wentz house, is the city’s oldest secondhand bookstore. More than 40,000 used, rare, out of print and antiquarian titles in over 50 subjects are shelved in 10 rooms.
“We’re really proud to be a UNESCO City of Literature — and one of only three in the nation — so we encourage groups to explore that aspect of our city,” said Stacey Houseman, vice president of sales for Think Iowa City. “We strongly support arts and culture. Our downtown has been designated a Cultural and Entertainment District by the state of Iowa.”
Distinctive Venues
Whether it’s a black-tie reception under museum skylights or a casual evening on a brewery patio, Iowa City’s venues offer personality and flexibility. Groups can gather in community spaces such as Big Grove Brewery. As one of Iowa’s largest breweries, it’s known for craft beer, expansive outdoor patios and a local menu. The Old Capitol Museum or the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art inspire conversation and creativity. Kinnick Stadium offers event spaces overlooking its legendary field for memorable receptions, dinners or VIP gatherings.
Hancher Auditorium, on the University of Iowa campus, presents world-class dance, music and theater. Receptions and private events can be held against its backdrop of stunning architecture. For a more intimate setting, FilmScene, the city’s independent movie theater, can schedule private screenings or creative receptions in contemporary surroundings.
Minutes from downtown, Wilson’s Orchard & Farm accommodates up to 225 guests with customizable catering and an in-house bar. The Barn at Walker Homestead, an 85-acre working farm and winery, offers inside space and 5,000 square feet of covered patio for al fresco dining that features wood-fired pizzas and seasonal menus.
“Both are a nice complement to our attendees who want to experience traditional Iowa because they’re nestled in rolling, green fields,” Houseman said. “Walker Homestead has goats to pet and grows a majority of their produce for their field-to-fork menu.”
Beyond traditional spaces, Xtream Arena and the attached GreenState Family Fieldhouse in Coralville are options for large general sessions, concerts or sports-related team building, accommodating up to 5,100 attendees.
Major Meeting Spaces
Warm Midwestern hospitality and a collaborative community are trademarks of Iowa City and Coralville. Situated within Iowa River Landing, the 288-room Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center serves as the region’s meeting anchor. The property recently completed room renovations and can host up to 3,000 attendees. It features 60,000 square feet of meeting space, two ballrooms and a 30,000-square-foot exhibit hall. Full-service catering, cutting-edge A/V and direct access to the district’s restaurants, shopping and attractions lend to its versatility.
“Our Hyatt is one of the nation’s top-rated Hyatts, with exceptional customer service ratings, a brand-new restaurant and 10,000 square feet of outdoor space overlooking a pond and wetlands,” Houseman said.
The 234-room Graduate by Hilton Iowa City, located on Pedestrian Mall, lies within walking distance of the University of Iowa and Kinnick Stadium. Meeting space totals 10,455 square feet for up to 500 guests. Recently opened in 2022, the 140-room Courtyard Iowa City University Heights sits across from Kinnick Stadium and the University of Iowa. It offers 9,966 square feet of event space and six meeting rooms. The rooftop ballroom affords stadium views and can host 350 for a reception or banquet.
In addition, the 143-room Hilton Garden Inn Iowa City Downtown University contains 2,788 square feet of event space. Its 12th-floor restaurant, Vue Rooftop, overlooks downtown and offers private rentals. Completely renovated, the 95-room Holiday Inn Coralville-Iowa City provides 6,500 square feet of flexible meeting space.
After the Meeting
Art lovers can explore the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art, as well as public art installations scattered across town. On campus, attendees can check out the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame and Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the Medical Museum. Literary history unfolds on downtown’s Iowa Avenue and North Linn Street Literary Walk, where bronze sidewalk plaques highlight quotes from famous writers and their connection to Iowa City. Come evening, downtown Iowa City’s Pedestrian Mall beckons with music, independent bookstores, boutiques and innovative dining.
“Downtown has always had a thriving after-hours scene because it’s in the heart of a Big Ten campus,” Houseman said. “Nightlife is lively, from rooftop patios and speakeasy-style cocktail lounges to our beloved local pubs.”
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Iowa River Trail by foot, bike or kayak along the Iowa River. Golfers will find championship courses nearby. Finkbine Golf Course is home to University of Iowa golf teams, and Brown Deer Golf Club touts an arts-and-crafts-style clubhouse and restaurant.
Approximately 25 miles northwest of Iowa City are the ever-popular Amana Colonies, where shoppers can browse craft stores while history-lovers take in the Amana Heritage Society Museum. Food, wine and beer showcase the area’s German heritage. Traveling southwest, Kalona Historical Village preserves Amish, Mennonite and Kalona history with a dozen historic buildings and several museums.
